Latch mechanism for spittoon-covers.



N. LOVECE, LATCH MECHANISM FORSPITTOON COVERS. Y APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6. 2917.. 1 i1 Patented July 24, 1917.

W 2 SHEETS'SHEET 1.

N. LOVECE.

LATCH MECHANISM FOR SPITTOON COVERS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6. Ian.

1 ,234, 1 -l Patented July 24, 1917.

2 SHEET SSHEET 2.

v I Attorneys l F ii i NICOLA LOVEGE, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

LATCH MECHANISM FOR SPI'I'TOON-COVERS.

Application filed January 6, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NIooLA Lovnon, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Latch Mechanism for Spittoon-Covers, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to provide a novel latch mechanism for use primarily on a sliding cover which houses a spittoon.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

l/Vith the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows in top plan, a device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section showing the structure of Fig. 1 mounted in a floor or deck, parts appearing in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken through the latch mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a fi'agmental top plan showing a portion of the lid or cover and the casing which is mounted thereon;

Fig. 5 is a perspective showing one of the side blocks which serve as a support for the movable latch lever whereby the cover or lid is held in a closed position;

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken approximately on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a cross section taken approXimately on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the latch lever.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a latch which constitutes an improvement on the structure shown in my copending application Serial hlo. 100,324, for Letters Patent on a sanitary cuspidor, filed May 27, 1916, allowed July 15, 1916. Some parts of the structure shown in this present application duplicates parts disclosed in the application above denti- Specifieation of Letters Patent.

Patented July 24, 1917.

Serial No. 140,979.

fied by serial number, and consequently, the description may be shortened accordingly, proper notice being given when new elements are described.

In the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates the floor of a building, railway vehicle, steam boat or other structure. In the floor 1 there is an opening 2 enlarged at its upper end to form a recess 3 defining a shoulder 4. Seated in the recess 3 and supported on the shoulder 4 is a base plate 5 including a depending extension 6 located in the opening 2 and provided with a substantially horizontal flange 7. The numeral 8 designates a cuspido-r located within the extension 6 and provided with an outwardly extended flange 9 which, cooperating with the flange 7, serves to support the cuspidor removably. If desired, the cuspidor may be provided with a pivoted bail 16. Upon its upper surface, the base plate 5 is equipped with an upstanding boss 11. By means of securing elements 12, the base plate 5 is attached to the floor 1. Superposed on the base plate 5 is a frame 14 which is U-shaped when viewed in top plan. The frame 14 is secured to the base plate 5 by means of attaching elements 15.

The parts above mentioned duplicate corresponding elements in my copending application above identified by serial number, and need not be described in greater detail.

Mounted to reciprocate beneath the side portions of the frame 14 is a cover 17 which may be reinforced as shown at 18, in any desired manner, so that it will not bend when stood upon. At its rear end, the cover 17 is supplied with a scraper 19, whereby mud may be removed from a boot or shoe. The rear edge of the cover 17 is equipped with a pusher 20 which may be sharpened to form an edge 21. The dirt which is removed by the scraper 19 is carried rearwardly by the edge 21 of the pusher 20, when the cover 17 is retracted, it being ob served that the pusher 20 moves in close contact with the upper surface of the floor 1, as shown in Fig. 2.

In the cover 17 there is formed an opening 23. Superposed on the cover 17 a casing 24 including a base 25, longitudinal upstanding ribs 26 and an end wall 27 hav- 1n thfi base 25 of the casing 24, and this opening is aimed vertically with the opening 28 a notch 28. There is an openin 29 in base plate 34 has a depending stud 35, re ceived in the opening 29 of the part of the casing 24, and in the opening 23 of the cover 17. A cleat 36 is applied to the under face of the cover 17, and extends across and beyond the opening 23. A securing element 37 passes upwardly through the cleat 36 and enters the stud and inthis way, the base plate 34 is held upon the part 25 of the casing 2' 4. Adjacent its forward end, the base plate 34 has a recess 38. Upstanding from the base plate 34 to the rear of the recess 38, and preferably formed integrally with the base plate, is a post 39 provided in its forward edge with an opening 40. Above the opening 40, a slot 41 is formed in the forward edge of the post 39. The post 39 terminates in a rearwardly extended projection 42.

The numeral 43 denotes a lever having wings 44 which lie on opposite sides of the post 39, the wings 44 being connected by a lip 45 which may be formed integrally with the lever 43. The lip 45 is received in the slot 41 of the post 39 when the lever 43 swings toward the post. The lower end of the lever 43 is received in the recess 38'0f the base'plate 34. The lever 43 is equipped at its lower end with an angularly disposed arm 46 carrying a depending latch '47 which on the end portion of the frame 14. When the cover 17 is slid to a closed position, the beveled portion 48 of the latch 47 efiects a raising of the arm 46, and subsequently, thelatch 47 engages with'the keeper 22 to hold the cover 17 in a closed position. The lever 43 is provided with an opening 49 complemental to the opening 40 in the post 39. The openings 49 and 40 receive the ends of a helical compression spring 50. The spring 50 serves to swing the lever 43 to the left (Fig. 3) until the arm 46, which is received in the notch 28 of the end wall 27, rests upon the end wall, as shown in Fig. 3. The latch 47 thus is positioned in such a way that it will engage automatically with the keeper 22, when the cover 17 is pushed to a closed position. Because the lever 43' is supplied with the wings 44 and the lip 45, the spring 50 is housed in and protected. The latch lever 43 is provided wish lateral'trunni'ons 51 adjacent its lower The invention comprisesa pair of side blocks 52 having recesses 53 on their inner sides, the recesses 53 receiving the ribs 26, and defining flanges 54 which engage the outer faces of the ribs. The recesses 53 also define ribs 55 in the side blocks 52, the ribs 55 overhanging the ribs 26. The post 39 is received between the ribs 55. The ribs 55 are provided with lugs 56 which meet along a line 57 (see Fig. 1,) at the rear of the post 39. Securing elements 64 pass through the end wall 30 and engage'the ends of the side blocks 52. The ribs 55 of the side blocks 52 are provided with openings 58 in which the trunnions 51 of the latch lever 43 are mounted. In this way,the latch lever 43 is so supported that it canyswing' in a vertical plane. Screws 59 or other securing elements pass upwardly through the base plate 34 and enter the lugs 56. The side blocks 52 are supplied with openings 60 In practical operation, the operator ex 7 erts pedal pressure agalnst the upper end of the latch lever 43 in the direction of the arrow A of Fig. 3. The latch lever 43 is tilted on its trunnions 51, and the latch 47 is disengaged from the keeper 22. Continued pressure in the direction of the arrow A will cause the cover 1 7 to be slidr'earwardly, thereby to expose the spittoon 8. When pressure in the direction of the arrow A is relieved from the lever 43,- the lever 43 under the action of the spring 50swings until the arm 46 rests on the end wall 27 within the contour of the notch 28. When the occasion for the use of thespittoon 8 has passed, pressure in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow A'niay be applied to the projection 42 which forms part of the post 39. In this manner, the cover 17 may be slid toa closed position above the spittoon 8, the latch 47 interlocking automatically witlrthe keeper 22, and remaining interlockedwith the keeper, due to the action of the spring 50.

The spittoon'8 may be lifted out of the extension 6 at any time, readily, for cleanmg.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2 of the drawing, it will be obvious that when the cover 17 is advanced to a closed position, the.

cleat 36 on'the under side of the cover, cooperating with the boss 11 on the plate 5, serves as a stop for'the cover. I V

For convenience in claiming the invention, the plate 5 and the frame 14L thereon may be alluded to as a supporting structure.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure; a cover mounted to slide on the supporting structure; a post mounted on the cover; side blocks receiving the post; means for holding the side blocks fixed with respect to the post; a keeper on the supporting structure; a latch mounted to swing on the side blocks and cooperating with the keeper; and a spring interposed between the latch and the post.

2. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure; a cover mounted to slide on the supporting structure and provided with an opening; a base plate having a lug received in the opening, and provided with a post; means for securing the base plate to the cover; a keeper on the supporting structure; a swinging latch cooperating with the keeper; means for supporting the latch for swinging movement; and a spring interposed between the latch and the post.

3. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure; a cover mounted to slide on the supporting structure and pro vided with an opening; a base plate dis posed above the cover and having a lug received in the opening, the base plate being provided with a post; side blocks cooperating with the post and supported on the plate; a keeper carried by the supporting structure; a latch mounted to swing onthe side blocks and cooperating with the keeper; a spring interposed between the post and the latch.

4;. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure; a cover mounted to slideon the supporting structure; a casing mounted on the cover, the casing including a base having an opening, and end walls; a base plate mounted on the base of the casing and provided with a lug received in the opening, the base plate being disposed between the end walls of the casing and being supplied with an upstanding post; side blocks carried by the base of the casing on opposite sides of the post; a keeper carried by the supporting structure; a latch mounted to swing on the side blocks and cooperating with the keeper; and a spring interposed between the post and the latch.

5. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure; a cover mounted to slide on the supporting structure; a casing mounted on the cover; a base plate fitting within the casing and provided with a post; side blocks superposed on the base plate and interengaged with the casing; a latch mounted to swing on the side blocks; spring means coacting with the post and the latch; and a keeper on the supporting structure, the latch cooperating with the keeper under the action of said spring means. i

6. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure; a cover mounted to slide on the supporting structure; a post carried by the cover and provided with a notch; a keeper carried by the supporting structure; a latch cooperating with the keeper; means for supporting the latch pivotally, the latch being provided with a lip adapted to enter the notch when the latch is swung, and being provided with lateral wings disposed on opposite sides of the post; and spring means for advancing the latch, said spring means being housed within the contour of the wings and the lip.

7. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure; a cover mounted to slide on the supporting structure; a post carried by the cover; a keeper mounted on the supporting structure; a swinging latch coacting with the keeper; means for sup porting the latch for swinging movement; spring means interposed between the latch and the post for advancing the latch, the latch being provided with a lip located above the spring means; a guard disposed above the top of the post and overhanging the space between the lip and the post; and means for supporting the guard upon the cover.

8. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure; a cover mounted to slide on the supporting structure; a casing carried by the cover and provided with an opening; a base plate disposed within the contour of the casing and provided with a lug engaged in the opening, the base plate being equipped with an upstanding post; side blocks supported on the base plate and disposed on opposite sides of the post; a latch mounted to swing on the side blocks; a keeper carried by the supporting structure, the latch coacting with the keeper; a spring interposed between the post and the latch, the latch having a lip located above the spring and constituting a protection therefor; a guard extended over the top of the post, a portion of the guard extend ng across the space between the lip and the post; and means for securing the guard to the side blocks.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

NICOLA LOVEOE.

Witnesses:

M. H. Noirron, WM. C. CHURCH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

